Learning what you need to know to rent is not difficult. You just need to do some reading at your local library or buy a tenants' rights book. I recommend three such books:

Every Tenant's Legal Guide by Janet Portman and Marcia Stewart (Nolo, $26.95) is the most comprehensive resource for renters, especially those with complex legal problems.

The Savvy Renter's Kit by Ed Sacks (Real Estate Education Co., $22.95) is not as extensive on the various state laws, but it is an excellent source for tenants. A chapter on forming tenants unions is unique.

Renters' Rights: The Basics also by Portman and Stewart (Nolo, $24.95) is a must for first-time renters.

It provides the kind of introduction that every renter should have before signing the dotted line on a lease or rental agreement. If landlords nationwide were to recommend the book to renters, I'd bet only half of today's landlord/tenant problems would exist in the future.

Now in its 2nd edition, Renters' Rights covers key renter issues. Here is a sampling.

UNDERSTANDING THE LEASE

The first time I had to sign a lease, I was overwhelmed by the legal jargon and felt compelled to sign out of nervousness in front of my landlord.

Be prepared before you sign your first lease. Consider getting a copy of the lease in advance and reading it. The Renters' Rights book can explain each clause in the lease and warn you of clauses you don't want in your lease.

"I think the best part of the book is the system on how to figure out what to argue about when you are negotiating a lease," co-author Portman says. "For example, it explains which clauses are legal, which are illegal, and which are unrelated to any legal standards at all, such as getting a parking place."

BASIC RENTING RULES

Before you sign your first rent check, make sure you understand when the rent is due, where you should send it and what will happen if you don't pay on time.

These and other renting rules, such as rent increases and changes to rent terms, are covered in the Renters' Rights Rent Rules chapter.

IGNORED REPAIR REQUESTS

When the first thing breaks in your new apartment, what do you do? As a first-time renter, you may not know how to report the repair, or what do you do if your landlord ignores your request. The Repairs and Maintenance chapter covers your rights to a habitable apartment and what you can do when your landlord won't make repairs.

Whether you're starting out or returning to the rental market after being a homeowner, the Renters' Rights book can arm you with the key to successful renting -- knowledge. Knowing the ropes, you'll be able to live happily in your home and have a congenial relationship with your landlord.